On Love's Gentle Shore by Liz Johnson

Book 3 in the Prince Edward Island Dream series has just been released.  My girlie and I have thoroughly enjoyed this series.

I just finished reading the third book and it is just as enjoyable as the first two.  Marie, Seth, Jack Aretha, Caden and Adam are all back for a new adventure along with an old friend and resident of the island named Natalie.  Natalie returns home to plan her wedding but her troubled past will make the whole process harder than she could possibly imagine.

We get to enjoy Rose's Red Door Inn bed and breakfast and it's guests along with the local diner, and a local dairy farm and it's owners this time around.  Caden is still cooking up the best breakfast in the area as the executive chef of the inn.  She is continually delighting all of her guests on a daily basis while teaching a cooking class and working part time with a cooking school for teens.  There is lots of local color on the shores of Prince Edward Island including an old lighthouse.

It is a sweet but twisty story that keeps you guessing right up to the very last chapter.  There are beautiful pictures of love and forgiveness that permeate the stories of the people of the island.  I would give this one a 4 out of 5 as well.  It is a delightful series.

This book was sent to me free of charge by the Revell Publishing branch of Baker Publishing.  The only thing they ask in return is that I read the book and give an honest review.  I gladly recommend this Christian fiction series to you!

Other books in the series...

My review for this one

My review for this one.

Check out Liz Johnson's Author Site.

Guide to the Empty Nest by Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates

Barbara and Susan actually wrote the first edition of this book several years ago.  This is a previously released book for them.  This edition contains the original book plus new information.  It is one of those books that got better with the new version because they are able to share more about their time as empty nesters now.  They have learned and grown and I love that they stepped out to bring us a new version.  I had not heard of the book before this one was released.  The timing for me is perfect as we are quickly moving toward this phase of our lives in the next 6-8 years.

The premise behind this book is to show us that we are not alone.  Every mother, for the most part, will go through this at some point.  I do realize that some will have a child at home for the duration of their lives due to extenuating circumstances but the majority will be releasing children into the world and facing an empty quiet home again with their husbands or possibly alone.  Another reason for this book is to equip us with tools to learn how to live in the empty nest phase of our lives.  It is a resource you will go back to again and again I think.

This book is so encouraging!  Rainey and Yates share ways of coping with children leaving the home permanently.  They have gathered personal stories from dozens of women who have gone before us and share how they are surviving and thriving in this new reality.  There are a ton of resources, links, book recommendations and such to guide us through this time.  

Barbara and Susan share their own personal stories, too.  They share how they have grown since the last writing of this text.  It is all written from a Christian perspective on developing our mission and obeying God in our new walk without children.  The key is to keep going.  We must realize as much as our lives revolved around being a wife and mother that is not all we were created to be.  There is a grand life after the children have gone on to have their own families.  It is exciting for me, as we now have our first grandson, to see what a great phase of life being a grandmother will be.  It is still more than that, though.  I can have a whole ministry and mission that is all my own and Dan and I can have a new life together in a changed marriage and ministry.  This is a brilliant book.  I cannot recommend this book strongly enough!

This book was the perfect read at the perfect time for me and I am so glad to be able to review and recommend this book to you.  It was sent to me free of charge from Bethany House Publishing (a division of Baker Publishing).  All they asked in return is that I read and give my honest opinion in a review for you.  If you are anywhere near the empty nest phase of your life this is a MUST READ for you!  

I definitely give this one a 5 out of 5 and would recommend it to every single woman I know over a "certain" age.

Find out more about the authors...

Barbara Rainey

Susan Yates

Baker Publishing Page

Sacred Privilege by Kay Warren

I have been a ministry wife for the past 28 years.  There have been some very hard days in that time.  As I began reading this book I knew, immediately, that Kay Warren understood my life, joys, frustrations, struggles and all.  She is open and honest about her life and ministry with her husband throughout this book.  She shares her ups and downs and, with great wisdom, she gives us great advice straight from God's word and from the depths of all He has taught her over the last 40+ years.

This book is about seeking God above all else.  She encourages us to keep our focus on the Savior who died for us and not on the world and it's hardness at times.  She assures us there will be struggles but God's plan is the greatest thing we can follow.  We have an enemy that does not want us to succeed in reaching a lost world.  Kay is so encouraging to ministry wives both young and old and shares truths from God's word to build up our faith to keep going.  

If someone has compiled a list of books all young pastors wives should read this should certainly be at the top of the list.  I believe that Kay's shared ministry experiences have great value for those who are coming behind her in this world of ministry.  It is not an easy life and she does not give us any fairy tale illusion that it is.  

We have an important call, ladies.  We are to bring glory to God in all we do.  Everything about this book points straight to that message and I believe this book brings glory to Him, too.

Thank you Kay for this beautiful book of hope in a very difficult call!

This book was sent to me free of charge by Baker Publishing Group - Revell Division.  All they have asked in exchange is that I would read it and give an honest review.  I am thrilled to recommend this to ministry wives everywhere!  I give it a 5 out of 5 rating.

Kay Warren's Website

Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in It's Proper Place

This is one of those books that I wish I had read 15 years ago.  It did not exist when my children started using social media and technology.  As a middle aged parent of adult and teen children we spent a big chunk of our time navigating blindly for the start of this social media age.  Looking back I realize that I was making decisions about things as they came up rather than making a plan to avoid the pitfalls of this world we are living in now.  Andy Crouch's book will change all of that for parents and families today.

This book gives 10 excellent strategies for, as the title says, putting technology in it's proper place. Crouch even goes so far as to encourage us to turn it off completely for part of each day.  Sound hard?  With Andy's 10 strategies you might find it easier than you think.

This book is not about trashing our technology and moving out into an isolate cabin somewhere.  Crouch fully believes there is a place for technology in our world today.  He just feels, as do I, that we should step away sometimes and be a family.  We should have meals together with real conversations and game nights indoors and out, and spend time reading stories or listen to music together.  He boldly says that maybe we should even PLAY music together.  I love that suggestion, by the way.

The book is loaded with results from the latest Barna Research Group study on how technology is impacting our lives and families.  Crouch takes that data and provides some very practical ways to change the trends we see toward isolation and addiction caused by our overuse of such devices.

By paying just a little more attention to our habits we can make changes to have more meaningful family and friend time.  All it takes is realizing we need to set these devices aside for part of our day, week and even for up to a week or two a year.

Crouch is very candid at the end of each chapter with a personal evaluation on how his own family is doing in each realm.  He is very honest in saying that sometimes they are still struggling to make some changes but that it is a work in progress.  His family is certainly better for these 10 strategies, though.

He addresses something that I have continually seen in my reading this year.... Sabbath.  It is not only important for us to take time to rest but to let our devices rest, too.  We don't let them rest for their sake.  We set them aside for our sake.

This book is not a giant thick read.  It is divided into very practical chapters that are quick to read and will have you thinking about how you can be more present in your own life.  I hope you will take the time to read a copy of this book and focus more on what is really important in this world.  Let us all put technology in it's proper place and live our lives with more focus on the most important things in this lifetime while we can.

You can read more about Andy Crouch and this and other books he has written on his website

This book was sent to me by Baker Books for free.  All they ask in return is that I read and review it with my own personal unbiased opinion.  I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending it to every family I can.

I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

Alive in the Spirit by A. W. Tozer

This book is a compilation of writings on the Holy Spirit by A. W. Tozer.  I have to be honest in saying it is not the kind of book I expected but it was still beneficial.  Most of the book is devotional with short chapters that can be read daily in just a few minutes.  Each chapter ends with a few key questions to help you focus thinking on the Holy Spirit in your own life.

I tend to be one who likes a more substantial read when it comes to theological things.  That being said this is still full even though it is lighter reading than most of the theology books by Tozer I have read in the past.  It is very personal... filled with personal testimony and experiences from Tozer's life.  It is not packed full of scripture but it does have some that help make some of his points.  I like the use of testimony.  It can build up the body, too, and his stories are full of the hand of God in his life.

Since it is a compilation the writing does not flow well in some places so it is a bit disjointed but the topic is valid and the information is truth so I would give this one a 3.5 out of 5 and tell you that if you enjoy devotional reading this is a good fit for you.

This book was provided by Bethany House free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

What is Reformed Theology? by R. C. Sproul

I have been a Christian for over 40 years.  I grew up in a church that taught certain ideas based on a widely popular theology of the day and I never questioned that until I left for college and started studying on my own.  In college I began to hear more and more about God's grace and mercy.  Those two things drew me in... I had to know more about these ideas.  I joined a local church there in Abilene and attended like I had growing up but I began opening my own Bible more and tuning into some teaching on a local Christian radio station.  I started having spiritual conversations with other students.  I began to pick up books on these ideas by theologians and comparing what they taught to what my Bible actually said.  The more I studied the more important I realized the study of God was.  Theology is just that... the study of God.

 As Christians we are commanded to study and know God over and over again through the Bible.  It breaks my heart to hear Christians say things like, "I don't like theology because it just causes arguments." or "Theology is really not important as long as we just love God and love people we will be ok."  The study of God is how we get to know who He is and His nature and will for us.  The world is full of misinformation and misconceptions on the study of God and His word.  It is so important for us to know the truth... know what the Bible teaches us regarding Him and His Son Jesus.  The world does not hold those answers for us.  My mission to know Him truly started when I sat in that first Old Testament Bible Class at Hardin Simmons University and it continues still.  It is a lifelong journey that every believer should take.  

This book is a great start.  It is chock full of scripture and church history!  R. C. Sproul does such a beautiful job using scripture to show us what reformed theology is all about and why, based on that scripture, it is where he falls on the theological spectrum.  I have come to so many of the same conclusions as I have grown as a Christian over the years.  This is what I believe!

Sproul's writing is so thoughtful and logical.  He spends the first five chapters showing us where the idea of reformed theology started and how it developed over time through men like Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Calvin.  He shares how Luther came out of the Catholic tradition and the conclusions he came to based on his study of scripture.  

The second half of the book is spent addressing the five basic tenets of Reformed Theology using the TULIP acronym (check out the link for a series on this) to open up the dialog.  I won't go into detail here on each one because the book is so beautifully thorough on each point.  I encourage you to read the book for yourself to learn more about why churches teach certain ideas.  It might just answer some questions or clarify some ideas you have wondered about yourself.

Sproul has a real gift for bringing this history and explanation into layman's terms so that everyone can read and understand these ideas.  Martin Luther was doing the same thing when he tacked his 95 Theses on the church door.  These men felt that the masses should be able to know and understand the things of God 500 years ago, today and all the years in between.

As we are coming upon the 500th year since Luther's stand for reformation took place this book and the ideas contained in it are as relevant today as they were then. 

I give this book a solid 5 out of 5.  

This book was sent to me free of charge from Baker Books and all they ask in return is an honest review.

Learn more about R. C. Sproul and his Ligonier ministry.  He has written many great books over the years and as we come into this 500th year celebration of Reformed Theology he has some great resources to check out.  He also has a daily podcast/radio broadcast that you might be interested in checking out.

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson

A sweet Christian romance (not overly preachy) just in time for Valentine's Day!

This book is the second in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series by Liz Johnson.  I shared the first one, The Red Door Inn, with you guys a little less than a year ago.... here.

Continuing the story of the inn Marie and her new husband, Seth, have hired a local baker, Caden.  Caden is also a sweet friend to Marie.  She is hired to run the breakfast part of the new bed and breakfast.  Caden is a local resident who grew up on the island.  Her family owns the local bakery and Caden worked as her father's assistant there until Marie hired her.

The story opens with Caden making her locally famous cinnamon rolls.  A stranger, named Adam, shows up at the kitchen door that morning as she is working.  He seems to be a day early for his reservation at the inn.  There is not one room available for him but Marie offers him a roll away bed in a storage closet.  He had no choice because everything else in town was full also.  He gladly takes the option until he can get into his regular room the next day.  As the story moves forward we find out that Adam is a freelance writer with some secrets in his past.  His editor has sent him to the island for a mandatory vacation following a particularly trying assignment.  Adam does not realize right away that his editor has an ulterior motive in sending him to this particular inn.  As Adam's story unfolds Marie and her husband Seth are dealing with more trouble from Marie's father (see the review from her first book).  In the midst of all of this the inn is struggling with some unexpected financial issues, Caden is battling her own confidence issues, a variety of guests bring their own stories into the mix and there is the ever present community full of colorful local characters  A surprise call comes letting Marie know that a travel writer will be doing a surprise visit and possibly giving them a great write up in a popular travel magazine with the chance to be on the cover.  The summer is not dull as people are in and out of the inn with an element of confusion ensuing.  To top it all off Caden's nemesis, Bethany... a professionally trained chef from Toronto and former classmate, arrives in town just as a local lobster cook-off is coming up.  Let the crazy summer adventure begin!

The story is very foodie friendly with all the delicious things that come from that B&B kitchen.  Caden's story is full of food and cooking adventures and I really loved that aspect as a foodie.

It is a sweet story and it kept me guessing all the way through about how all the loose ends would be tied up at the end.  I loved Caden.... she reminded me a  lot of Sookie from Gilmore Girls and I adore Sookie!

The other two books in the series.... 

The Red Door Inn - Book 1

On Love's Gentle Shore - Book 3 

coming July 4, 2017

Learn more about Liz Johnson on her website.

This book was sent to me free of charge by Baker Publishing Group's Revell division in exchange for an honest read and review.

My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla's Reveille by Erica Vetsch

This book is the first in a series called My Heart Belongs...

I was drawn to this book because I actually live about 5 miles from the modern day Ft. Bliss, Texas. We spend a lot of time in that community with families and scouting.  

This book is historical fiction from a Christian perspective.  Erica Vetsch has done a beautiful job researching the history and details of this area..  You get to know, from the very beginning of the story, that there is a love story brewing.  What you don't know until it begins to unfold is that the story takes many twists and turns to get to the final resolution.  Life is never dull in the desert for the characters of this charming story.  The characters are genuine and lovable... well, most of them.  The book gives us a pretty good picture of what the relationships between 1874 fort residents and the locals, Indians in the area, and the many travelers on their way through to other destinations might have looked like.  They had to walk a fine line with the delicate balance of peace sometimes. The author explores, in detail, the beautiful, yet sometimes harsh, landscape and flora and fauna of the area.  She tells of a doctor who becomes friends and colleagues with a medicine man from a local tribe.  They share knowledge of herbs for healing and treating ailments in order to treat those under their care. 

The story is set in 1874 in far West Texas at a desert Army Fort... Fort Bliss, TX.  Priscilla gets the news that her brother and his wife have died and left twin children orphaned.  She travels from Cincinnati, Ohio to the fort with the intention of bringing them back with her to raise them in Ohio.  She did not expect to find them living with an Army doctor/surgeon on post when she arrived  This man was not only a doctor but is also their UNCLE.  The battle for the custody of these children begins as they have to decide what is best for the children.  You will have to read the story to find out what happens.... no spoilers here!

It is a great adventure! 

If you are ever in the area they have a lovely Old Fort Bliss Museum on post and if you are here during the March/April time of year you might catch a glimpse of those beautiful Mexican Poppies you see on the cover along the Castner Range area on the Northeast side of El Paso off Hwy 54 and Trans-mountain.

Just a sampling of our Mexican poppies

Old Fort Bliss Museum area... This was taken during my middle son's Eagle Scout Project that he chose to do at the museum.

You can see the museum in the back.  I will have to go and get a better photo sometime to share with you but I wanted you to see the area honoring the old fort.

There are more books coming from Barbour Publishing in the My Heart Belongs series with the next one coming March 1, 2017 called My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains by Susan Page Davis.

I was sent a copy of My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas in exchange for an honest review.  It is published through Barbour Publishing Company.  Please check out more from Erica Vetsch here and also on Facebook. 

I loved her writing very much!  

I give it a 5 out of 5.

I Wish He Had Come With Instructions by Mike Bechtle

This is a nonfiction book about how most men think and respond and what drives their behaviors.  

Dr. Mike Bechtle, an educator, speaker and author, addresses why men act 

the way they do in a variety of situations as they move through their lives.  

I wish I had been able to read this book in my early 20's as a young wife.  It is a very insightful book written by Bechtle with the goal of giving women ways to approach and communicate more effectively with the men in their lives.  I could apply a great deal of this to my husband but also to my dad and my sons.  He explains that most men will respond positively to conversation, communication and change if approached from the right angle.  

He does preface his remarks by saying that some men may not fit these suggestions due to their abusive or other harmful behaviors and that one should seek serious help in those cases.  He assumes that if you are reading this book you are seeking to build a positive relationship with a man you want to know and understand more deeply.  He also reminds us that this is not a book about making your men change to meet your expectations.  It is meant to give you tools so that you can approach them in positive ways to build stronger relationships.

This book gives very practical suggestions on how men think, act, and communicate.  Bechtle gives suggestions on how to reach beyond the outer person to really build a relationship that nurtures both of you.  In one of the chapters he mentions that his wife proofread it for him and suggested that all the work seems to be done by the woman in a relationship according to his writing.  He clarifies that by bringing us back to the title and purpose of the book.  It is meant to show women how to understand and approach situations differently for more positive responses and results.  He reminds us that the book was written for women and gives them tools that THEY can incorporate for better communication.  We cannot change other people... we can only change ourselves and our behavior.  This book gives us those tools.  

The ultimate message of this book is that we, as women, should take what we learn here to change how we will approach the men in our lives.  He assumes we are not looking for a fight but for an open dialogue.  He gives some great ideas that will help us approach our men with love and a desire to deepen our relationship with them.  His approach is one that builds the team in marriage.  I loved the part where he talked about two people bringing their strengths together to make a much stronger team than either could ever be on their own.

I highly recommend this book for any woman who wants to build better relationships with their husbands, fathers, and sons.  It changed my mind about a lot of things.  I see things that I can change about how I talk to my husband and older boys that I did not even realize may have sounded threatening instead of helpful.   

This book is extremely practical and informative... I give this one a solid 5 out of 5 rating.

I received this book for free from Baker Publishing Company for an honest review.  It is written from a Christian perspective but is not "preachy."  I would have totally picked this book up and purchased it if I had seen it in a bookstore.  I am grateful for the opportunity to share this book with other women.  It is a timely message that I think all women need to hear.

The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy - a Review

I must admit that it took me longer to read this one than I ever wanted it to.  I got it back in May and then my life exploded so I apologize for the time it took to get to this one because it is a delightful read and I think many of you would enjoy it, too.  It was a little slow starting it and getting into it but once I did I could not put it down.

This is a book set in two worlds.  It is both an historical fiction and a modern fiction book all in one.  The story focuses on a modern day Eden Anderson and her emotional journey through a past of miscarriage and a struggling marriage.  The historical story focuses on the famed Sarah Brown... daughter of John Brown of Harpers Ferry fame.  Sarah will face a future of infertility and hardship that shapes who she is to become as well.

These two women will share a connection in the form of a hand painted broken doll's head.  The story begins with Eden finding the head in a "secret" root cellar under her new home.  The doll's head takes Eden and her world of characters on a search to know how it got there and who it belonged to.  It leads them back to the time of the Civil War.

The Sarah Brown story is a beautiful fictional rendition of the life of an amazing woman who made a difference or women in history.  I love how Sarah McCoy weaves the two stories together.

I won't give you too much more.  You will need to read it to find out how their stories cross.  I can say that it is not a story tied up in a neat little bow by the end.  It is real people living real lives with real struggles and triumphs.  

The full cast of characters are charming.  The writing is eloquent and very descriptive and detailed.  I would love to read more by Sarah McCoy.  She is a master storyteller!

A few things you will encounter in this book include marriages, family, a lovely old house, new friends and neighbors, a bookstore, a sweet little dog, a cute 4th grader, famous historical figures, lots of yummy food descriptions, a few recipes at the end, a sweet town full of lovely people, art history, American history, and so so much more!  If you love any of these things then check it out.

I enjoyed this book very much and would give it a 4.5 out of 5.

This book was sent to me by Blogging for Books or free in exchange for a free and objective review.

This book is also available through Audible and makes a great trip read.  I picked it up on sale and loved every minute of listening to it on a recent trip, too.

Still On the Journey... September Plan for Food

I am heading toward another Whole30 journey for the month of September.  This time I am adding the AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) restrictions.  I just finished this book to help me with my planning.  Eileen Laird is the AIP blogger at PhoenixHelix.com.  This is not an all inclusive guide but it is very helpful for those who are starting and want to understand more about the Autoimmune Protocol for reducing inflammation in the body.  If you have an autoimmune disease/disorder then you, likely, suffer with some kind of inflammation on a regular basis.  

I have Lupus (SLE) and Fibromyalgia and my biggest battle seems to be with the arthritis that comes with it.  I have triggers that are external such as the rise in barometric pressure, excessively hot summer days, lack of sleep, and overexertion.  

I have food triggers, too, that I discovered last May (2015) during my last Whole30.  I struggle with soy, wheat, corn, dairy and a whole slew of preservatives and chemicals found in many prepackaged foods.  Since May 2015 I have struggled to keep those things out of my diet and have found that I seem to be sensitive to the nightshade plants as well.  I need to be back on track after all the crazy summer eating while we were traveling and dealing with a bazillion changes in our lives as a family.  Well, maybe not a bazillion... but it felt like it.

The book gives a good overview of what you should NOT be eating and then an extensive list of things you can eat in abundance.  It gives you helpful information for setting up your kitchen before you begin.... which is what I am doing this next week.  It gives you a basic grocery list, how to deal with spices that may be causing issues and how to make your own blends.  She addresses eating out at restaurants and travel tips, and my favorite... HOLIDAY EATING!

She encourages you to write everything down.  Keep an eating journal and a symptom journal as you go.  She even shares common mistakes and how to troubleshoot as you move through the changes you are making.  I wish there had been a more extensive list of resources because I know they exist but she really just shares things from her website and a few friends that she has worked with in this realm.  She has loads of personal experience so it is all great information.  The book is very practical and can help you right away as you start your journey to feel better.

I will be using this book in conjunction with the Whole30 book and website resources and It Starts With Food from Dallas and Melissa Hartwig.  I highly recommend everyone read It Starts with Food before you dive into the Whole30 plan.

Something you need to remember is that this is not a diet to be sustained longterm.  It is meant to be a 30 day elimination plan.  Once you get the junk out of your system you start reintroducing things back in.  The goal is to see how you tolerate them until you build a healthy eating plan for you that does not trigger inflammation and sickness in your daily life.

If you have any questions on this please feel free to ask and I can answer or point you to an answer.  We should never have to be on this journey alone.  I am grateful for my fellow sojourners that encourage me daily.  No man is an island.... 

I will be sharing, in the coming days, about two other resources I will be using through this, too.  They are from Amy Myers MD and address Autoimmune and Thyroid issues specifically so stay tuned for those resources.  She certainly warrants a separate post.

PS.  This is not a book sent to me for review.... it is just one in my stack that I wanted to share.  I paid real money for this one!  LOL

They Were Christians by Cristobal Krusen

One of the first things I do when I get a book with an author I am unfamiliar with is search for the author on google.  Maybe I am a huge geek but I want to know more about who wrote the book I am about to read.  I knew absolutely nothing about Cristobal Krusen when I got this book.  I suspect many of you don't know who he is either so I will tell you a bit about him before we get started with the book review.

Cristobal Krusen is a director, writer, producer and actor.  He has two degrees in film arts and has a lifelong love of classic literature and writing as well as photography.  One of the first entries I found when I did a google search on him was a link to IMDb!  He has worked on a few Christian biography projects on film.  The projects include a biographical movie called Undaunted: the early life of Josh McDowell and one about the early settlers to Jamestown called First Landing.

It seems only logical that he would write a biographical resource such as They Were Christians based on his love of history and writing.  This book is full of short biographies of some of the most influential people in history.  The subtitle says "men and women" but there was only one woman represented in this text.  It also speculates that some were Christians who may not have actually said they were but the fruit of a relationship with God was there according to Krusen's accounts of their lives.  I believe this book is well researched and historically accurate.

It is very well written.  I think I would enjoy reading more by Krusen.  I see potential for a series of books like this from him.  The book is not intended to give huge in-depth biographical information but, rather, it is designed to show faith in action in the lives of those he has chosen to write about.  

If you love reading biographies this is perfect for you!  I think it would lend itself to a homeschool library very well.  It is definitely for the older student.  The book is full of faith accounts and I believe it will strengthen our own faith to read about the challenges and faith during hard times in the lives of these historical figures.  My favorites were Florence Nightingale, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Dickens and Frederick Douglass.  There were a few that were new to me, too.  I always love meeting new people in history!

This book was sent to me free of charge in exchange for reading and honestly reviewing it by Baker Publishing Baker Books Division.

I recommend this book highly and give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Murder Comes By Mail by A. H. Gabhart

Overview

This is a modern day mystery written by a Christian writer and published through a Christian publishing company.  It is clean in language and presentation but it is not overtly religious.  It is very well written and suitable for all audiences from high school age up.

It opens with a small town deputy sheriff, Michael Keane, doing a favor for his aunt.  He was taking a busload of women from her church to a neighboring town for a performance.  On the drive there a most unexpected event happens.  Keane has to make an emergency stop along the way to talk a suicidal man off a local bridge.  Just shortly after pulling the man back from the brink of suicide against the man's will a simple threat sets things in motion.  Days after the rescue the mystery begins with an envelope that is delivered by mail with photos of a dead girl that no one can identify readily.  Keane is forced to begin his investigation even though it is out of his jurisdiction... an investigation that will, hopefully, save the lives of those closest to him and eventually his own life.  A colorful cast of characters includes a newspaper man, a lawyer friend from Keane's childhood, a feisty aunt and a neighboring police chief and his assistant who all come together to work it out before more people die.  

My Thoughts

This was my first murder mystery to read for review and I was pleasantly surprised at how addictive and enjoyable this book was.  So many quick read mysteries tend to be predictable and cliche but this was not like that at all.  I did figure it out before I got to the end but it kept me surprised and guessing all the way up to the moment I realized who did it!

I really loved the writing.  It was not complicated with lots of new vocabulary words but it was certainly a book I had a hard time putting down.  It was the perfect vacation book for me this summer.  I enjoyed it so much I came home and ordered the first book in the series for my fall reading list.  It is the second book in the series and there is a hint that more are coming in the Michael Keane stories.  I look forward to enjoying those, too.

A. H. Gabhart's website

This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for a fair and honest read and review.  It was sent to me by the publisher.... Baker's Publishing Revell Division.  I clearly enjoyed it and purchased the first in the series on my own.  LOL  I give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it highly for all those murder mystery friends out there.  It was a great read!

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

This is a modern day Christian romance novel set on the famous Prince Edward Island.

It is the first in a series by Liz Johnson with the second one due out in the fall of 2016.

The story revolves around Marie Carrington who is fleeing from her past.  She leaves her home in Boston to head north to Canada to escape the recent events that are haunting her and bringing her to full blown panic attacks at every turn.  Escaping is not enough, though, because she must hide her location from her family and former community, also.  Her father must not find her or he will drag her back to relive all of it again in a very public way.  She must not be forced to face it all again.

A kind stranger named Jack, an elderly gentleman, crosses her path and steps in to help her.  He is struggling with his own burden of trying to get a bed and breakfast up and running in his small community.  He is seeking to honor his wife, Rose, who passed away some time ago by opening a place that can shelter others from the storms of life and bring healing to all who stay there.  Jack offers Marie a job without knowing anything about her past and she reluctantly accepts the work and the place to stay.  The drawback is that she will have to work alongside Jack's angry nephew, Seth, to bring the bed and breakfast up to standard to get it opened on time.

Jack, along with a whole cast of characters, begins to take Marie in and treat her as family.  She begins to find her passion in life as God draws her closer and begins to peel away the layers of hurt and rejection.  

It is a familiar theme with a predictable but enjoyable romance or two along the way and a beautiful picture of how God the Father is the perfect Father unlike many of our own.  As Marie begins to see that God the Father is not like her own harsh father at all and that He really does seek to show her a better life full of love and forgiveness and second chances.

I did enjoy this book.  As many of you know, I am not typically a fiction reader but this one was a lovely read about a place so many of us long to see someday.  Prince Edward Island is spoken of so often in the Maud Montgomery novels and it is depicted beautifully in this novel.  Marie is a fan of the Montgomery novels as well.  

It struck a chord with me because it is set around a bed and breakfast and a small community with an antique shop, a scrumptious bakery that made me hungry every time it was mentioned and, of course, the beauty that surrounded all of it.  The characters from the community are absolutely charming and lovable for the most part.

I am certainly interested in reading the sequel to continue the story of the people in this story.

I would give it a 4 out of 5.

Want to know more about Liz Johnson and her books?

Check out her WEBSITE.

This book was sent to me free of charge by Baker Publishing Group's Revell division in exchange for an honest read and review.

A Woman's Guide to Knowing What You Believe by Patty Houser

This book is nonfiction. 

This is one of the most theologically sound books I have read in a long time.  It is full full full!  Patty Houser seeks, in this text, to teach us the importance of knowing exactly what you believe about God and His Word.  She encourages us to stay in the Word daily and to seek out the Truth of God.

Patty is a master communicator and writer!  So many books in the Christian realm are so fluffy these days with no substance and depth but this is CERTAINLY NOT ONE OF THOSE.  Patty is highly educated and well researched on matters of theology and Christian apologetics.  She lays the facts and information out very clearly for both the novice and the seasoned theologian.

For this year I have seen a recurring theme as God has spoken to me about how we should we live.  

The passage in Mark 12:30.... 

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and 

with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  (ESV)

has been at the forefront of what I keep hearing and reading.  Patty's book addresses this theme over and over again.  

I mentioned apologetics and I have heard women (and men) say that they do not put stock in apologetic and feel that apologetics are divisive.  They clearly have no idea what apologetics are so I will not assume here that everyone knows that word.  Here is the definition of apologetics from the source carm.org...

The word, "apologetics," is derived from the Greek word, "apologia," which means to make a defense. It has come to mean defense of the faith. Apologetics covers many areas: who Jesus is, the reliability of the Bible, refuting cults, Biblical evidences in the history and archeology, answering objections, etc. In short, it deals with giving reasons for Christianity being the true religion. We are called by God to give an apologia, a defense: "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence," (1 Pet. 3:15).

More simply put in the book by Patty in the glossary section, apologetics is... a rational defense for the truth-claims of Christianity.  

I feel that apologetics are essential for all Christians and to say otherwise is a cop out.  Patty agrees and in her book she lays out how we should know what we believe and then how we should reach out to the world around us with the Truth of God's Word.  She encourages us to have a personal relationship with Christ and to KNOW HIM and His Word intimately.  

Her challenge to us is to KNOW what you believe...  

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

and then go into the world and give them the Truth to bring them to Christ.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

This is an important book that will go on my shelf next to writers like C.S. Lewis and J.I. Packer because it is that valuable to our daily walk with Christ.  No, it is not the Bible but it exalts Christ and the Bible in a way that many modern day Christian writers completely miss.  It is a great resource for every Christian.

The book ends with a checklist of what we believe.  It is intended to show us where we might be unsure so that we might focus on those beliefs and really study them for ourselves.  Lifelong study is key and we can never know all there is to know about God but we should constantly be in search of His Truth.

Add this one to your resources if you are serious about your relationship with Christ and studying the Bible.  It is something for both new believers who are trying to figure out this journey and more mature Christians who have read and reread the Bible throughout their lifetime.  

Get it for yourself... gift it to a fellow Christian or new believer.... it will bless you both!

I give this one a solid 5 out of 5!

This book is published by Bethany House: a division of Baker Publishing Group.

This book was provided to me free of charge for an honest review.

The Bee-Friendly Garden by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn

This book is a nonfiction gardening resource. 

This is one of the most beautiful and practical gardening books I have ever seen!

Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn are two scientists and gardening experts on a mission to educate us about bees and their importance.  

This book starts by educating us about bees and their role in nature.  They address why they are important and how we can help to repopulate and save them from their recent plight.  

Once we are aware of the importance of bees they open up about plants and gardening practices that encourage the re-population of bees.  This book is packed with beautiful photographs of the different kinds of bees and many kinds of plants and flowers that are both beneficial and harmful.  I love that they identify both sides for us.  

Once they have educated us they share information on designing gardens that draw bees to your yard.  This book is loaded with information, resources, definitions, photos and it is so timely!

If you are a gardener I am sure you will love this book.  I certainly have.  It will become a mainstay in my gardening resources stack for years to come.

I gladly give this book a 5 out 5!

It is published by Ten Speed Press.

This book was provided to me free of charge for an honest review.  It was provided through the Blogging for Books program... http://www.bloggingforbooks.com/

Every Little Thing by Deidra Riggs

This book is nonfiction

This book tells how even the smallest things in our lives can matter for the Kingdom of God.  It is an engaging book with stories from the author's life.  She uses her personal experiences to tie her points together to show us how she has learned to see God in the small things and how you can, too.  

Deidra Riggs writing style is friendly and encouraging.  She elaborates on a concept I heard 20 something years ago from Henry Blackaby.  God is at work around us and He invites us to join Him in that work.  She lays it out simply for us that He is calling us even in the midst of our everyday lives.  He wants to use us in powerful ways right where we live.  She encourages us to live each day for Christ.  What we read in God's word should be lived out in our daily lives.  

It is all written from a biblical perspective.  The only qualm I had about any of it was the use of the Message instead of a more reliable biblical text to add emphasis to her points.  That is a thing with me because I believe we should strive for accuracy when sharing God's word.  It was not a deep theological book but more for the layperson.  I liked that she encourages us to be open to being used by God wherever we are in our spiritual walk.

I give this book a 4 out 5.

It is published by Baker Books: a division of Baker Publishing Group

This book was provided to me free of charge for an honest review.